it can be argued that Lennie suffers the most as he has to deal with his disability and try to control his incredible strength. He does not understand the animosity of Curley and the scene where Curley attacks him painfully reveals his distress and lack of comprehension. He suffers greatly when he accidentally kills first the puppy and then Curley's wife, berating himself for what he has done at the end of the novel's action, Lennie is killed. Ironically, George's decision to shoot him in the back of the head is to spare Lennie's suffering at the hands of a furious Curley and his posse
Crooks could be considered the character who suffers most. He is physically disabled by a crooked back and lives in constant pain. He also suffers from prejudice because he is black, referred to by the other men as the 'nigger'. He is the lowest of the low in the ranch hierarchy. Even the lowly Curley's wife is able to put him down with her threat that she could get him 'strung up so easy'
Curley's wife could be considered the character who suffers most as she is isolated and overlooked, so insignificant on the ranch that she is given no name. She is lonely and isolated, unhappy in her marriage to Curley who she states 'ain't nice'. She tries hard to gain attention and companionship from the men on the ranch, but they consider her to be nothing but trouble, 'jailbait' in fact. She suffers the ultimate penalty of death, when her neck is broken by Lennie in the barn
George suffers through the burden of Lennie's condition. He must always think about future possible outcomes of Lennie's behaviour and look over his shoulder while considering their next move. He cannot experience the simple pleasures enjoyed by other men because of his responsibility for Lennie. He cannot blow all his wages in the town at the bar and ‘cat house’. George suffers at the end of the novel because he has to sacrifice his best friend for his own good. He faces the loss of his friend and his dream, which will lead to inevitable loneliness through this act, but it is the only option remaining to him
Candy can be described as suffering: he is the 'old swamper' who has lost a hand in a farming accident and can now only sweep up and do the most menial jobs on the ranch. Candy suffers greatly when his old dog is shot by Carlson because it is too old and 'no PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com 46 good.' He latches onto the dream of Lennie and George, pledging money to help make it happen. He lives in terror of being 'cann'd' and faces a bleak future when the dream is shattered by the death of Curley's wife.